A new ‘ransomware’ founded by researchers put in a currency miner on machines

Siliconreview Team
2017-05-22

The recent buzz regarding the virus that exploit the same vulnerability as the global “ransomware” attack has affected more than 200,000 computers and begun manufacturing digital currency, says the experts. The growth adds to the hazards uncovered by the WannaCry ransomware and provides another proof that a North Korea-linked hacking group may be behind the attacks.

Developed in division with hacking method that were either stolen or leaked from the U.S. National Security Agency, WannaCry so far has infected more than 300,000 computers.

While, the researchers at a security firm Proofpoint said that the related attack, that fix a currency “miner” which produce digital cash has started infecting machines in late April or early May but it got unnoticed previously as it lets computers to operate while creating the digital cash in the background. Proofpoint executive Ryan Kalember said the authors may have earned more than $1 million, far more than has been generated by the WannaCry attack.

Like WannaCry, the program assault via a fault in Microsoft Corp’s Windows software. That hole has been patched in newer versions of Windows, though not all companies and individuals have installed the patches. Digital currencies based on a technology known as blockchain operate by facilitating the formation of new currency in swap for solving complex math problems. The digital “miners” run particularly configured computers to resolve the problems and make currency, whose worth decisive vary according to market demand.

Kalember said he believes the similarities in the European case, WannaCry and the miner were “more than coincidence.” “It’s a really strong overlap,” he said. “It’s not like you see Moreno miners all over the world.” The North Korean mission to the United Nations could not be reached for comment, while the FBI chooses not to comment.